2/15-2/21. 3 on the strip. 3 DT.

Having traveled Southwest previously, we now purchase the early-bird check in option. He likes an aisle seat, me the window. Flight from Newark was easy, on time, and no-one sat between us, first win of the trip, IMO.

Arrived to Flamingo around 7 pm, again check in was smooth (even though only Plat, having that separate check in room is a bonus!). Was given a room on the 27th floor of Spa Tower, last time we had a fountain view, this time pool. For a “free” room I can’t complain. There was a little box of candy/snacks in the room, it was a cute touch. Room, over-all was great. BF was starving so off to EI we go, while I realize it’s no Ruth Chris Steak house, for $7.99 how can you go wrong?

After dinner we head back to Flamingo by this time BF is tired (as I have mentioned in previous TR’s, he’s a great guy but kind of lame) so he goes to bed. I probably should have done the same but instead I go to the BJ table. There I sit and sit, occasionally popping next door to the Linq and Harrah’s (I wanted to be sure to earn my badges for the quest, lol) until I deposit 1800.00 to CET. Not a smart or great way to start a 6 night trip. Finally at about 7am I decided to call it a night.

Thursday, we had a tour scheduled for the Acrylic Tank Manufacturing place so we headed there. It was ok, probably would have enjoyed it more if we were big fans of it, but all in all it was interesting to see. After, we took a stroll to Wynn, what a pretty place inside. Came back to Linq and hit I&O Burger ordered animal style, what can I say? Yum!!! Thursday night we had tickets to Marc Savard hypnosis, what a great show! I got tickets from Groupon for $17 each, it was money well spent! I can easily recommend it to anyone! I laid low on gaming, licking my wounds from my first not-so-great 8 hours of gaming. Played a slot at PH for the quest, got my badge and made a few bucks.

Friday – It took 11 visits, but finally, I made it to MAG for breakfast. The Quiche Lorraine was magnificent, can’t wait to go back next visit and try something else! Unfortunately it was drizzling out so we couldn’t sit outside, but we had a table with a view, not really any good people watching due to the weather, but it was nice anyway. On the way back I earned my badges from Paris, Bally’s, and Cromwell. After putting ourselves together we hooved over to the Atomic Testing Museum. There was a lot to learn and it was really informative. We spent a few hours there taking in as much as we could.

Friends of mine were coming in from AZ, so they met up with us at Flamingo and we walked over to Rio. Again, thanks to Groupon I had 4 rounds of KISS mini golf for $19. I sucked but it was fun. Sat a $10. 6:5 bj table (I know, I know. But I am the only “gambler” of the four). Because I was at a 6:5 table I was getting bj’s like it was my job, finally I was having a little upswing! On a side note, Bf was getting a little jealous because our cute female dealer was flirting with me and not him! By the time we left, I was still down but not nearly as bad as I was previously.

Saturday, we were making the move to Plaza. Ran over to Caesar’s to get the badge. Made a few more bucks. In the end, with regard to the badge quest, I actually made about $300 off the slots and I earned all 9.

Ok, I know the Plaza can be a hot topic. I for one, am a big fan. I have been treated very well there, have had great experiences/interactions with 99.9% of the dealers (I did come across one this time that was not a CSR person, (but I keep in mind, you never know what someone might be going through) and I sniffed for the “smell” which was unfounded. Granted there is a “perfumy” smell but honestly, there was nothing swere-ish. Actually, I noticed a much more rancid odor up on the strip, I want to say between Paris/PH.

The room at Plaza was really great, we were in a PH and it was clean, comfortable, and had a great bathroom with a Jacuzzi, so thank you! My BF is into street art, so he was thrilled that we were looking straight on at a Dface mural. Unfortunately, Saturday was an extremely wet day, we even bought umbrellas. I guess it really does rain in Vegas! Thankfully the rain pretty much subsided by Sat night; we had an 8 pm tour at Neon Boneyard. Paul was our tour guide and he was awesome! This was my second visit there and I loved it just as much as the first time! Gaming at the Plaza proved to be fruitful, as has been my experience at Plaza in the past. I would like to see another option for a $25. table but the one DD game there has worked for me. So if it ain’t broken don’t fix it, right?

Sunday, friends were going back to Az so we met at HHAGG for breakfast, way too much food, even splitting it with the BF. Hit Atomic Liquors, Indigo Child is one fine drink! And just walked around exploring the area a little bit. There is a pretty neat record shop, 11th Street Records just up the street from Atomic. They had a very large vinyl selection. Worth a visit if in the area. Sunday evening, went back up to the strip. Finally got my Verbena at Chandelier. Wow, what a sensation! Then to keep the BF happy we had to go to Taco Bell Cantina.

I had been waiting so long and finally had tickets to KA, I hate to say it but what a disappointment! I literally kept falling asleep during it and no I was not drunk! The only other CDS shows I have seen are the MJ one and Paramour on Broadway and I would see either of those again. Hope the next one I see is better.

Monday, walked over to ElCortez, I don’t know why, but that place makes me laugh. The BF wanted to play a little $5. bj, that is where he is comfortable. So there we are playing, I am at spread of 1 to 10 units per/hand being hawked over. I tripled up my buy-in and was done, my bf lost at every game he played, literally the entire trip. (On a side note in 6 days he only lost $300 gaming, so..). After leaving we hit Gold Spike, I love their Dirty Tater-Tots at Fiddlestix and the Strawberry Cheesecake boozy shake! Clog those arteries, I say! Of course we had to play a round of Corn-hole. Walking around, off Fremont there are so many interesting murals, really a lot of cool stuff to see. So we took in many of them, really some are so impressive. Had dinner at Oscar’s Monday night, it was the first time and was rather pleased with the whole thing. Not sure how I forgot but we also visited the Mob Museum. It was really laid out nicely and very informative. Also, skipping back to Friday night, we did the buffet at Rio. How soon we forget!

Tuesday morning, squeezed in a little gaming before heading back home. By the end of the trip I was up, leaving with more than I came with. I was hoping to be able to buy a new car and get a little lipo after the trip but at least I have some money for the next trip, which I have already started my bucket list for!

Of course, gaming was going on intermittently and people watching on Fremont goes without saying! As we all know, there is never a lack of entertainment to be had! Can’t wait to go back (just hope it will be a solo trip next time, I am little overdue). Thanks for reading. Here are some pics

 

Nice trip report. Nothing like a solo trip. My husband is joining me for half of my next trip and I'm bummed I don't have the whole 2 weeks to myself! Love the shrimp dish...what is it exactly? Looks delicious! Nice room, too.

 

Great TR Happygirl! I am with you on the whole Ka experience - totally overrated - I slept through half of it. I enjoyed Mystere much more. Good luck with that solo trip! I'll have 24 hours solo to kick off my April trip and I'm sure that will be my favorite part.

 

Enjoyed your TR @Happygirl21 ! Nice amount of detail and variety for a fun and informative follow along - you guys really covered a lot of geography! I don't play much at CET properties so it was interesting to read about your badge quest - does it earn you extra points or just a personal quest?

Glad you left a winner!

 

Great trip report!! I love my solo trips as well. I was there for Super Bowl weekend solo, but my girlfriend is joining me in April for my next trip. She is great at letting me do whatever I want in Vegas, while she walks the strip and goes shopping, but still there is nothing like being there solo!!

 

It was just a stuffed shrimp, had crab in it. They were delicious, it was dinner at Oscar's at Plaza.
I can't wait for my next solo trip, the last three have been with other people. Since my bf doesn't really gamble it leaves me feeling pressured b/c I know he's just sitting around...waiting..lol

 

Hi Geogran,
CET has a promo going, quest for rewards. Basically, if you earn 25 TC "badge" at a property they give you an extra 250 TC toward your players reward level. Then if you "earn" a certain number of badges (18? ) you get bonus TC's. In addition to the TC's they are having some drawing at the end so earning badges gives you entries etc. I'm sure someone here could explain it better but that's the gist of it. There are 9 "badges" available in LV. I'm in NJ, so there's 3 more not to far from me plus one in Philly. Hoping to maybe make diamond next year but we'll see.

 

Thanks @Happygirl21 - you explained it very well - it sounds like fun and a great way to earn extra TC's. I read a lot about diamond status here on VMB - I'm rooting for you to make Diamond !!

 

I also fell asleep during KA.....Multiple times.
I'm glad I'm not the only one.

 

Great pix and report! You might want to explore the Arts district sometime...very walkable from downtown and lots of murals, etc. in that area.

 

Great TR. I love the Quiche Lorraine at MAG. And I also nodded off at bits of KA - somewhere in the middle it drags. Try Mystere next time - that's my favorite CDS so far.

 

Nothing quite like a winning trip, solo or with a non-gambler. Although, I must admit, it's a lot more fun without the added pressure of living up to, or down to for us degenerates, someone else's expectations. I love my solos and it's been too long since I took one.
Thanks for sharing with us.

 

I enjoyed the report. I know what you mean about the solo thing. I get to focus on my gambling and cigars solo next weekend and then going with my wife in April. Glad to hear the Plaza has been good to you. I'm planning to do some gambling there for the first time since the early 90's next weekend.

 

My g/f and her dad slept through some of "Ka" as well...What the hell is with that show? haha Losing $300 for the week is also how my gf would do if she "lost at everything"...

And nice comeback!

 

I think that "KA" stands for"KEEP AWAKE"!!

 

Superman vs. Elvis!
That would be a movie I'd go see!

Great report, Happygirl21!
Thank you!

RICHARD

 

Great report!

Now you "walked to the Rio" from Flamingo? I always heard that you couldn't get across the highways without getting killed? How did you manage?

I slept through KA too! Too funny.

Glad to hear you enjoyed another stay at the Plaza...I will be there again soon!

Thanks for sharing.

 

Hey there, Blonde. Yea, we just walked up the side of Caesar's. At the intersection there was a cross walk in the road. Once we got on the over pass ( over 15?) there was a walk way that we were on. The walk way kind of veers off to the right, slightly. Actually, as we were walking there was an area where several homeless folks had tents set up, which looked rather "permanent", for lack of a better word. But, yea there was no problem walking and we were never walking on the road. I'd say it took us about 20 mins to walk it.

As for Plaza, I could not be more pleased! I'm planning an October trip now, but hoping to fit a quickie visit in during the summer. Have a great time!

 

Enjoyed your report. Both the wife and I nodded off at KA.

Mark

 

Great trip report and photos. Ka is one of the more expensive naps I've taken. I swore off Cirque after that one. Slept through much of O as well.